DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6272#0147
144
VOYAGE UP THE NILE.
mile up the river. He heard the voices of several of the black
eunuchs, who had traced him through the villages by the
barking dogs, but remained quiet till night, when, proceeding
further up the river, he crossed there in a boat; and going to
the Mokaattam mountains, arrived at Cairo on the other side
next day, having not dared to enter a village for food. He
went immediately to the French Consul, and told his story;
but what would his protection have been to one who had the
character and secret of the daughter of Defterdar Bey in his
hands ? and any " dog of a Christian" would be easily dis-
posed of. So, upon the advice of the Consul, he left Cairo,
and went to Alexandria, where he took passage for France.
The disappearance of many young and handsome Franks,
more adventurous than prudent, was thus accounted for; and
this was the last instance known of one who had been in
danger of being sacrificed to gratify the passion and save the
reputation of this Egyptian "Lucrezia Borgia." Franks in
Egypt were not protected as now, and the despotic and
ferocious will of the daughters and sisters of the Beys and
Pachas, particularly under the Mamelooks, caused many a
parallel circumstance.
The Indian mail across the Isthmus has made Egypt a
progressive country. But Turkish rule keeps back their im-
provement. The contractors for the route at the stations on
the desert, have to give large sums, backsheesh, to the Pachas
or Beys, or they throw obstacles in their way.
Among the plagues of Egypt and the routes to Syria are the
dragomen. There is an understanding always between the
hotels and the dragomen, and hence one is as apt to have a
bad as a good one. The best way to get dragomen, is to ask
some one in Cairo to whom you have letters. The English
VOYAGE UP THE NILE.
mile up the river. He heard the voices of several of the black
eunuchs, who had traced him through the villages by the
barking dogs, but remained quiet till night, when, proceeding
further up the river, he crossed there in a boat; and going to
the Mokaattam mountains, arrived at Cairo on the other side
next day, having not dared to enter a village for food. He
went immediately to the French Consul, and told his story;
but what would his protection have been to one who had the
character and secret of the daughter of Defterdar Bey in his
hands ? and any " dog of a Christian" would be easily dis-
posed of. So, upon the advice of the Consul, he left Cairo,
and went to Alexandria, where he took passage for France.
The disappearance of many young and handsome Franks,
more adventurous than prudent, was thus accounted for; and
this was the last instance known of one who had been in
danger of being sacrificed to gratify the passion and save the
reputation of this Egyptian "Lucrezia Borgia." Franks in
Egypt were not protected as now, and the despotic and
ferocious will of the daughters and sisters of the Beys and
Pachas, particularly under the Mamelooks, caused many a
parallel circumstance.
The Indian mail across the Isthmus has made Egypt a
progressive country. But Turkish rule keeps back their im-
provement. The contractors for the route at the stations on
the desert, have to give large sums, backsheesh, to the Pachas
or Beys, or they throw obstacles in their way.
Among the plagues of Egypt and the routes to Syria are the
dragomen. There is an understanding always between the
hotels and the dragomen, and hence one is as apt to have a
bad as a good one. The best way to get dragomen, is to ask
some one in Cairo to whom you have letters. The English